Mountain Miles

Hit the road for one of these eight great scenic drives through West Virginia.

Kelsey Smith

Hawks Nest State Park on the Midland Trail is one of author Su Clauson-Wicker's favorite scenic spots.
With forests covering almost 75 percent of the state, West Virginia
offers a trip into rustic and wild country just across the Ohio River.
With so much natural beauty and 37 state parks, it’s a great place to
hit the road and soak in the scenery. We asked Su Clauson-Wicker, a
Blacksburg, Va., resident and author of Scenic Routes and Byways West Virginia, to share some of her favorite scenic drives and stops to make along the way.

The Midland Trail49 miles | Malden to Hico EAST on US Route 60

This
drive, which starts just east of the state capital of Charleston, runs
alongside the New River. “The redbuds will be in bloom, the river will
be full and the little waterfalls between Gauley Bridge and Glen Ferris
will be frothy with spring runoff,” Clauson-Wicker says. Go in late
April, and you’ll be able to spot the first rafters of the season
hitting the water from the New River Bridge. Must See:
Stop off at Hawks Nest State Park for dramatic views you can’t get from
the road, thanks to a tram that descends into the New River Gorge.
May–Oct. hawksnestsp.comHistory Lesson: In Malden, see a
replica of African-American icon and former West Virginia resident
Booker T. Washington’s home and schoolhouse. The site is operated by
West Virginia State University. wvstateu.edu

Center State Ramble
52 miles | Philippi to HelvetiaSOUTH on US 119 (merges with West Virginia Route 20) -->EAST on COUNTY ROAD 11

Begin
at the covered bridge along U.S. Route 250 in Philippi and travel south
on U.S. 119 to French Creek, before heading east to Helvetia. “You’ll
see dogwood blooming, as well as lots of forest and pretty rivers,”
Clauson-Wicker says. The drive’s endpoint, the Swiss village of
Helvetia, looks much like it did when it was settled in 1869. Must See: Check
out elk, bison and bears — animals that all once roamed the state — at
the West Virginia State Wildlife Center near French Creek. wvdnr.govArtistic Spot: Visit Ron Hinkle’s glassblowing studio in Buckhannon to see him work and learn about the craft. ronhinkle.com

The Northern Panhandle 55 miles | Chester to Wheeling SOUTH on WV 2 -->EAST on WV 208 --> SOUTH on WV 3 -->WEST on WV 8 --> SOUTH on WV 2

Starting
at the tip of West Virginia, this drive runs along the Ohio River,
offering views of the forest interspersed with cattle farms. “For part
of the drive, this winding road leaves the hustle and bustle along the
river as it climbs a narrow, wooded gully,” Clauson-Wicker says. Must See: Tomlinson Run State Park off of West Virginia Route 3 offers hiking, fishing and cabin rentals. tomlinsonrunsp.comRoadside Attraction:
Near the start of the drive, along Carolina Avenue in Chester, you can
make a stop at the World’s Largest Teapot, a symbol of the state’s
pottery and china industries.

Rocks and Rivers62 miles | Union to HuntersvilleNORTH on US 219 -->EAST on WV 63 -->NORTH on WV 92 (merges with WV 39)

“This
drive may contain the only flat road in West Virginia,” Clauson-Wicker
says with a laugh. The route winds through the countryside and offers
mountain and forest views before ending near Knapp’s Creek Bridge. There
you’ll see a large sandstone arch, also known as the Devil’s Backbone. Must See:
If you’re traveling in the fall, stop at Morgan Orchard to pick apples
at a farm that has been around since 1896. morganorchardwv.comAdventure Trek:
Organ Cave off of U.S. Route 219 offers a historical tour and a wild
tour. On the latter, you have only a headlamp to navigate the cave’s
multilevel interior, which stretches 45 miles. Closed Sun.,
organcave.com

The Healing Springs Tour51 miles | Peterstown to Sweet SpringsNORTH on WV 12 -->EAST on WV 122--> NORTH on US 219 -->EAST on WV 3

This
drive along West Virginia’s southern border meanders through beautiful
farm country and ends near Old Sweet Springs, a home designed by Thomas
Jefferson. “[It] pops out of the rural landscape like a West Virginia
Versailles,” says Clauson-Wicker. Must See: Take a side trip from Gap Mills up Peters Mountain to the Hanging Rock Observatory for great panoramic views. hangingrocktower.orgHistory Look:
The Red Sulphur Springs resort near Indian Creek along West Virginia
Route 12 was a high-end hotel in the 1800s, before serving as a Civil
War military hospital. After the war, the hotel continued on until
around World War I. All that remains today is the property’s stone
spring enclosure.

River to River
42 Miles | Capon Bridge to MathiasSOUTH on CR 14 (also known as Cacapon River Road)  SOUTH on WV 259 -->WEST on WV 55/259--> SOUTH on WV 259

The drive begins along the northeastern border of the state, near the headwaters of the Cacapon River in the town of Capon Bridge. It ends at Lost River State Park, which is home to a cabin once used as a summer retreat by the father of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. “You travel through gorgeous farmland and the river simply sinks into the ground and reappears miles later on the other side of the mountains,” says Clauson-Wicker. Must See: All of the buildings in Capon Springs still look like they did when they were built in the 1880s. caponsprings.netHistory Look:
The John Mathias Homestead, located in Lost River State Park, was built in 1797.lostriversp.com

Railroad Excursion19 miles | Cass to DurbinEAST on WV 66 -->NORTH on WV 28/92 --> NORTH on US 250/WV 92

The
trip begins at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, alongside the
Greenbrier Railroad, and ends at the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley
Railroad. Be sure to visit Cass Scenic Railroad State Park before
hitting the road. “It’s right on the Greenbrier River Trail — a really
nice walking, biking and riding trail,” says Clauson-Wicker. “There’s an
old logging village and you can take a steam train that runs up the
mountain.” Must See: The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley
Railroad offers excursions on four different trains that span locomotive
history. April–Nov., mountainrailwv.comRoadside Attraction:
The world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope is part of the
National Radio Astronomy Observatory near Green Bank, which is open for
tours. nrao.edu

Canaan Valley Loop
45 milesNORTH on WV 32 (6 1/2 miles north of Harman at WV 32/72 intersection) -->WEST on US 219--> SOUTH on WV 72

“The
drive goes through the center of this pretty valley that seems
perpetually bathed in a soft, filtered light,” Clauson-Wicker says. The
drive traverses a very hilly, rural era, so she advises against making a
trip during the winter. “Route 219 is a winding, mountainous road, so
it might be a little scary in the snowy months.” Must See: Home to the
60-foot Blackwater Falls, Blackwater Falls State Park is a popular spot
for hiking. blackwaterfalls.comCan’t Miss: While driving up Backbone
Mountain, you’ll see a wind farm with more than 100 345-foot wind
turbines